Importance of First Aid: Saving Lives and Preventing Injuries

1. Why Learn First Aid? Lesson 1

2. The Need for First Aid Every year • 2 million people are hospitalized because of injuries • 140,000 die from injuries • 500,000 die from heart attacks • 150,000 die from strokes • 2 million people are hospitalized because of injuries • 140,000 die from injuries • 500,000 die from heart attacks • 150,000 die from strokes

3. Emergency Medical Services System • First aid is only the first step • Make sure the EMS system responds • Call 911 or your local or company emergency number

4. Be Prepared for Emergencies KNOW: • What to do • Where first aid kits are kept • Emergency phone numbers Do you use 911 or a different emergency telephone number?

5. Preventing Emergencies • Most injuries can be prevented • Take steps! • Always follow safety procedures required by OSHA

6. DO THE CHECKPOINT 4 QUESTIONS NOW 1

7. Not if you protect yourself: Act onlyas you are trained to act Get a victim’s consent before giving first aid Can You be Sued for Giving First Aid?

8. Can You be Sued for Giving First Aid? • Do not move a victim unnecessarily • Call for professional help • Keep giving care until help arrives

9. Good Samaritan Laws • Most states have laws to encourage people to help others in an emergency • These laws protect you legally when you give first aid What are the Good Samaritan laws in your area?

10. Must You Give First Aid? • In most states there is no legal obligation to give first aid as a citizen or a bystander • If you begin giving first aid, continue giving care and remain with the victim • Your job may require giving first aid, making a legal obligation: A DUTY TO ACT

11. Must give consent before you can give first aid Tell the person your training and what you will do to help Assumed to give consent (implied consent) A parent/guardian is assumed to give consent if not presentand the child is injured Get the Victim’s Consent Responsive Victim: Unresponsive Victim:

12. Standard of Care • What others with your same training would do in a similar situation • Do only as you are trained • Any other actions could result in the injury or illness becoming worse

13. Negligence You may be negligent if: 1. You have a duty to act. 2. You breach that duty. 3. Your actions/inaction cause injury/damages.

14. Examples • Moving a victim unnecessarily • Doing something you have not been trained to do • Failing to give first aid as you have been trained

15. Abandonment Abandonment is if you leave the victim and injury/illness becomes worse. • Once you begin giving first aid, do not stop until another trained person takes over • Stay with the victim until the help arrives or someone with equal or greater training takes over

16. Stop Care only… Justified instances of stopping care: • Exhaustion • Imminent danger

17. Coping with a Traumatic Event • Talk to others (do not breach confidentiality) • Remind yourself your reaction is normal • Do not be afraid or reluctant to ask for professional help: • Employee Assistance Programs • Member Assistance Programs

18. DO THE CHECKPOINT 4 QUESTIONS NOW 2